Raising a Neglected Singer-Songwriter - Chapter 18



Only Krnovel

Episode 18. Chechola (4)

It has been said that music is a record that is conveyed to the listener.

Both movies and dramas.

I guess that’s the case with most creative works.

The medium of delivery and the genre are determined by the difference in methodology regarding how and with what I convey it.

If I tell the story that I put into the lyrics by unraveling the rise and fall of my music into a video, that is a visual medium.

A movie is two hours long.

If you release it into sixteen one-hour videos, it becomes a drama.

Within that, the detailed genre will be decided again.

According to the creator’s intention.

The same goes for music.

The reason I chose music as a medium is because I am a musician.

If you want to convey that with rock music, then rock music.

dance.

Hip-hop.

ballade.

Trot.

That’s how the genre is determined.

But there is no need to be narrow-minded when it comes to genres.

There are also dramas that are like 8-hour long movies.

There are also songs that mix trot rhythm with dance.

So, there is no need for the genre that sings like a poem with lyricism to be a ballad.

I’m not trying to sing a ballad like that.

Ultimately, what I wanted to say is that creators should have the widest possible field of vision and spectrum.

“So?”

Junho asked, rubbing his body against mine.

Ah… … It seems a bit strange when you say that it is swelling the body.

I’m not doing this with any strange intentions… … This kid is just a bit clingy.

“Get away. For a bit.”

“Wow… … You’re already abandoning me just because I went up in the rankings?”

“What are you throwing away? Please step away from me. It’s heavy.”

“No. Our boss told me to stick close to my brother. Now that I think about it, he’s a visionary. Don’t you think so?”

“What the heck. Hey, stop it.”

As I shook myself off, Wooyeol, who shared a room with me, sat down next to Junho with a smile.

“Anyway. Sight, spectrum. So what are you trying to say? I’m curious too. What have you been doing secretly with the producer lately?”

The story goes that there were three people gathered in my bed.

A room for 4 people.

So it’s been two months since we started training.

Of course, it’s impossible not to become attached.

We suffer and sweat together.

Well… … I didn’t shed any tears, but the kids here shed tears too and that’s how we became so close.

The broadcast is now in its second half.

The broadcast the day before yesterday was episode 10, so there isn’t much left.

In the meantime, more trainees were eliminated, and there are currently 21 people.

Now, everyone will be alive and together until the final 13th episode, where the nine members of the debut group will be selected.

So, there is a little bit of leeway.

As members drop out, we leave the beds empty, so most rooms have one or two empty beds, or there are rooms where all the members drop out and the lights don’t even turn on. But our rooms are all still alive.

Even to the basement where he was sitting blankly in the first bunk of the second-floor bed across from us, watching the three of us.

Now that I think about it, everyone else is Kim except me.

Three Kims… … three Kims… … three Kims.

Very 80s and nice.

It’s friendly.

“I’m writing a song. It’s something I feel like these days.”

“How do you feel these days? So you’re an old person?”

Brother Wooyeol sometimes has things like this come into his head.

“What song is it?”

He couldn’t help but ask, perhaps because he was secretly curious about Jiha, who was the same age as him.

“Dance. Killer dance music.”

“It’s music… … Wow, hyung, you’re really going too far.”

Junho is messing around again, but what’s wrong with his choice of words?

How can we say that this is a terrible hybrid?

When speaking, there are times when words or tone of voice that only adults would use based on the standard of 25 years, and there are times when words that can only be used on the Internet come out and get criticized due to the power of media that has been exposed to them in a short period of time like tutoring.

I don’t really care.

Because it all comes down to me in the end.

Twenty-somethings of the 20th century living in the 21st century.

Jiiing―

Since filming is almost 24 hours a day, my phone, which is always on vibrate mode, rings.

I checked and it turns out that the judge is producer Jo In-chang.

“yes.”

-What are you doing? Come quickly.

“yes.”

Tiring—

The phone call was disconnected.

This guy is funny.

Are you having a honeymoon?

If you actually go there, they’ll really hit you.

* * *

It’s surprisingly not easy to make an idol successful.

First of all, the idol members must have charm.

In the meantime, singing, dancing, rapping, etc.

There must be musical balance.

But that doesn’t mean it’s over.

There must be a good song.

If you have good members and good songs, does that mean you’re successful?

That’s not it either.

The company’s planning capabilities, capital power, and the marketing direction and concept that come with it.

Even if everything falls into place, there’s still one last thing you need.

pray.

We must pray very earnestly.

Understanding, leading, and following the public’s tastes is not as easy as it sounds. Success is that difficult.

The producer who successfully settled three teams by going through such a difficult process three times in a row is Jo In-chang.

Of course, there is nothing easy about the process.

Jo In-chang gave up some of his reputation for success.

It’s better to be a successful producer and get cursed at as a toxic and bad producer than to be a nice but incompetent producer.

So… …Jo In-chang was in the front, and Jo-jjip-chang was in the back.

Jo-ss… … No, Jo In-chang is praying earnestly today.

“Ah… … Did I say something too rude?”

no.

I just spoke briefly and to the point, and I didn’t say anything rude at all.

“Ha… … I have to seduce her this time.”

I bit my fingernails for no reason.

The most remote corner of the 4th floor, the top floor of an abandoned school that is used as a filming location and dormitory for the idols I choose.

Was it a music room, a science lab, or a warehouse?

Anyway, I asked the production team to turn this room, which was not used as a classroom but for that purpose, into a workroom.

reason?

What could be the reason?

I was in charge of producing when the debut group for Season 2 of My Pick Idol was completed.

The debut song was also composed by Jo In-chang.

TVK and Hyper Sound, founded by Jo In-chang, jointly managed the debut group through a temporary joint venture in which they each held 50/50 shares.

So, we have to work on it.

Basic setup is required to get things working.

We needed a space to put our set of equipment.

It’s not like I can commute between Gyeonggi-do and the office every day.

It’s just a temporary studio, so it’s not anything grand.

computer.

speaker.

Converter.

Master keyboard.

Even a stand microphone for instant recording.

The extent to which a system is in place to compose music.

Wheeeeeeing―

A desk placed in a room that is larger than expected.

And two chairs.

Just when I was starting to think, “This is a little scary…” the guy I had been waiting for came in.

“I’ll be there on time, so why do you keep calling?”

“Uh… … you’re here?”

Even though he is a judge, he doesn’t even knock.

So Jo In-chang decided to try a small rebellion.

“You’re a trainee and I’m a judge. You know that, right?”

“yes.”

“I know. I know… … .”

“Is that important?”

Jo In-chang forced himself to keep his mouth from widening.

okay.

All musicians.

This is how a creator should be!

I really, really, really like it.

Jo In-chang’s guiding principle is that if someone without skills is arrogant, they are trash, but if someone has skills, they should have an ego that matches their skills.

This doesn’t mean you simply have to have pride.

Ego is the driving force of difference and gives newness to the creator.

One of the reasons Jo In-chang became Jo-ship-chang is because his standards for skill are different.

“Sit down. Would you like a glass of water?”

“Please give me something warm. For the throat.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Jo In-chang got up from his chair and pressed the coffee pot button on the table.

It will heat up properly in 20 seconds.

If you leave it longer than that, it will get hot.

Click—

Joinchang, who had counted to 20 in his head, handed the water to Ha-ro who was moving along the port.

“thank you.”

Lee Dong-ha, who received it with both hands, nodded.

‘He’s not just a cheapskate. This kid is too good, what should I do?’

When an incompetent person bows, it is cowardly, but when a capable person does it, it is humble.

At least that’s the criteria for the join window.

Jo In-chang opened his mouth after confirming that Lee Dong-ha had moistened his throat with warm water.

“Shall we begin?”

* * *

It was a month ago that my individual meetings with Jo In-chang began.

So, about a month after the training camp started.

It was when my ticking, trashy body was able to keep up with the basic rhythm.

-Can you tell me how to mix it?

-Mixing? Why you? Are you a talented idol or something like that?

I asked first.

I found out he was quite an amazing producer.

It wasn’t that great, but it didn’t really matter.

The compositions I do are written one by one on a staff.

Because the melody that comes to mind is an old-fashioned way of checking and correcting by playing the guitar yourself.

There’s nothing wrong with that approach, but it’s definitely lacking something.

I am not one to hold on to relics of the past and call them traditions.

That’s why we needed a teacher.

A teacher who will teach you how to compose in the 21st century.

That was Jo In-chang.

-I want to know how to compose music.

– Can anyone compose music? Just do what you’re good at. Songs. You’re pretty good among the kids here.

―I’m not saying I want to learn how to compose. I’m talking about the ‘method’ of composing. The method. How to use programs and utilize effects. How to use machines, and things like that.

I remember Jo In-chang’s face when I said that.

It’s ridiculous.

That was exactly the expression on his face.

-Ah… … Then, you know how to compose songs?

-yes.

-Have you worked on anything? Show me some.

In the 21st century, the work was done.

So, the only thing that remains as a musical score is .

So I took out a notebook from the luggage I brought and handed it over.

―… … Wait a minute. Hey, follow me. Hey, PD Ahn. Let me borrow this for a minute. It won’t take long.

The temporary workroom dedicated to Jo In-chang, located in the corner of the 4th floor, was thus arrived at.

The equipment is equipped.

So I was able to simply connect my electric guitar and amp to the speakers.

Soon the completed sound was heard through the speakers.

-You… …Is this really your original creation?

―You know it’s rude to ask a creator that question, right?

―Ah… … , that’s right. Just wait. Listen to the rest.

From then on, the barrage of questions began.

It’s not Jo In-chang who frowns and spouts caustic remarks throughout the broadcast.

-Your style is a mix of 80s metal and 90s alternative rock. Was that intentional?

It was intended.

Because it was the music of the time that influenced me the most.

―It’s a bit abrupt, but the speed of the change. There’s no alternative to this. I can’t think of anything more than this.

―Wow… …, this is really strangely good. How long did it take you to compose it?

-Register this copyright right now. Are you a member of the copyright association?

―Where are the famous foreign rock bands now… … Hmm… … Let’s give it a try. I’ll squeeze out my connections. Once you hear it, you’ll definitely get a response. This is a song that will really shake the souls of rock fans.

-Why? Why don’t you like it? Is there anyone you can give this to?

– Are you crazy?! Why are you singing this yourself? Are you going to do rock instead of idol?

-Band? Bae-ae-ae-and-duh? I’m laughing right now because it’s so ridiculous. Do you know? Have I lived too long? I’ve heard from people who are supposed to be idols that they want to be in a rock band.

-No, this is it.

– Sorry, sorry. Sit down for a moment. Why are you so excited?

He asked me to become his own agent and sell my songs overseas.

I scolded him and said he was crazy.

I didn’t do anything special, I just tried to appease her.

I even apologized.

There was no such thing as a spectacular sight.

-Ah. Right. I was the one who got excited. Right. Um… … There are 9 songs at this level?

– That’s right. There is no correct answer when it comes to level. Can you show me right now?

So I drew a score on a piece of paper on the spot.

It won’t be difficult.

To a creator, a song he or she composed is like a child.

I don’t have many children like that yet.

The debut album of my band that remains in my head… … that is, one of the songs from the album that was canceled right before its debut.

I tried entering it on a keyboard that looked like a piano key.

―Ugh… … , Dude… … You really did music in the 80s? How do you manage to capture this kind of emotion at your age? You’re unique. Wow… … Not just unique. At your age, you’re pretty much the Special One.

―How many guys have you seen who show lyrical emotions? With an acoustic guitar, a tone that reminds you of singers from the 70s and 80s, and even a composition. But a song that feels like an 80s rock band?

―Still, you have to learn a little. To be honest. You’re good. You’re talented. I’m not talking nonsense. You’re awesome. But. It’s the 21st century. If you release an album with this song, you’ll fail. No matter how good the song is, you chose wrong. You’re really bad. The genre of the song you composed is itself.

– Rock maniacs? At least they’re all gone in Korea. It’ll only appeal to the maniacs. Let’s increase commerciality. I’ll teach you before you develop bad habits and only make rock music. JD I’ll become a musician who can beat you up. I promise.

I felt a little bad.

This guy, Jo In-chang, there was no such thing as filtering.

He’s always quick to praise good things, but when it comes to things that he doesn’t like, he just blurts them out without any thought to how the other person will feel.

Rock is backward music.

My music has a 80s-90s feel.

The statement itself is correct.

How old will the young people be listening to rock music in 2025?

One of the two songs you played was composed in the early 90s, so it’s natural that it has a 90s feel.

The other one is said to have been composed a while ago, but I’m an old person.

Where did the essence go?

That must have made me feel even worse.

Facts are inherently painful.

So I spat at this person without any filter.

-Ah. Okay. Just teach me how to use the machine.

To be honest, I thought you’d be really angry after hearing that.

I did it with the intention of making you feel a little better too.

however…….

―Hehehehe… … Oh, sorry… … . Hehehehe… … Why do I keep laughing like this… … Hehehe.

Okay, I didn’t know what to do.

At that time, I thought, “Is this guy a pervert?”